Duck Eggs in Lockdown... A Question

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Mom2Munchkins

Mom2Munchkins

Songster
10 Years
Mar 2, 2009
542
3
153
Upstate NY
Ok, this is my first time hatching duck eggs... I have read about people misting eggs, I didn't do it through my incubation. Although today, I thought what the heck, and I misted the quickly. As I suspected, it sent humidity up to 80% and fogged the windows. I wiped them down quick, and then saw a pip 5 minutes later!!! Should I mist more? How often? How high is TOO high for humidity on duck eggs in LD?? Any help is apprecited!!!
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I have some Welsh Harlequin eggs in lockdown right now too.
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Misting eggs during the incubation period actually causes the eggs to lose more moisture. I know it sounds backwards, but it has something to do with the process of the water evaporating off the eggs...
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Anyways - at lockdown, I keep the humidity around 75% (mostly because that's as high as I can get it). I have noticed that when you spray the eggs, it does seem to encourage them to pip. I mist them if I have to open the incubator during lockdown to add water or anything. Once they pip, the membranes will start to dry out, and it will cause the humidity to go higher still - mine usually goes up 5% as they're pipping, zipping, and fluffing out.

It sounds like your humidity is fine - now leave the eggs alone to do their thing! NO MORE opening the 'bator to spray them!
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Quote:
Good advice. I keep my humidity in the 70% range during hatch as well. No need mist the eggs in my opinion. Keep the incubator closed at this point. If one has pipped, they everything should be going as expected.
 
I'd like to add a couple of questions if the OP doesn't mind. Some of my eggs have started to pip, but they're still in the turner. Is it alright to open it long enough to remove the eggs from the turner and put them on the floor of the bator? Also, once they hatch, I read somewhere that they shouldn't have food or water for the first 24 hours. Is that right?
 
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Good luck Mom2Munchkins. You are doing fine.


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I would remove the turner as quickly as possible. Yes food and water are not necessary in the beginning.
 

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